Posted on 12/26/2009 3:21:22 PM PST by Glenn
Before I begin, let me just state that TSA has yet to confirm any of this on its website, so the details aren’t entirely clear at the moment. That said, there are several indications that orders have been issued to cease the use of electronics during international flights. Yes, that means no laptops, no iPods, no Kindles, no CD players, no portable DVD players, no Nintendo DSes — nothing that requires any sort of power on these flights. If this is true, it’s absolutely awful news.
Obviously, this is all in reaction to the Nigerian man who attempted to bring down a plane coming into the U.S. And the TSA is going to do whatever it thinks is necessary to prevent further attacks of a similar nature. But the simple fact is that if the TSA was really this seriously worried about electronic devices, they could have banned them anytime since the attacks on September 11, 2001. Instead, they’re doing it more than 8 years later after a man apparently lit some sort of mixture of powder and liquid in his lap. How that relates to electronics, I’m not sure. This just reeks of a “well, we have to do something” move.
Again, all the details aren’t known yet, and it’s entirely possible that this is just a temporary measure that will be in place during a heightened security time following the attempted attack. Other reports suggest this will only affect planes coming into the U.S. Of course, if you leave the U.S. to go on an international trip, you’re very likely going to have to come back, so this will affect you.
So far, all the TSA is official saying is this:
Passengers flying from international locations to U.S. destinations may notice additional security measures in place. These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same thing everywhere. Due to the busy holiday travel season, both domestic and international travelers should allot extra time for check-in.”
Those other security measures apparently include not being allowed to get up in the final hour of a flight (so, no bathroom), being limited to one carry-on bag, and not being allowed to have anything on your lap in this final hour.
We’ll update this post when the official policy becomes more clear, but given the previous policies of no liquids, taking off your shoes, etc, it wouldn’t be entirely shocking for a no electronics rule of some sort to be commonplace. And it comes at a time when air travel was becoming almost becoming bearable thanks to WiFi on a growing number of flights (though domestic for now). Instead, it looks like we’ll have to revert back to the old standards: Books, magazines, and newspapers for these flights. If I were the print media companies, I’d jack up the prices in airports immediately. They may have just found a business model that will save them: Fear.
I stand by my statement earlier: If they take electronics away from us on plane, I’d much prefer to be put into a state of hibernation on the flights like in Avatar. That’s about the only thing that will make those cattle cars tolerable at that point.
Interestingly enough, I will eat a deep fried pork steak, wrapped in bacon. (And I have!)
But I will NOT eat a pork rind. (If you’re gonna do screening, make it meaningful, and delicious.)
Gee: banning legal, innocent activities is the key to banning illegal activity. Maybe you ought to suggest that to your local Homeland Security Gruppenfuhrer. . .
Sorry, but rules are rules. Proceed to Station 3. Bend over and take hold of your ankles. Think of England.
Since I am a type 1 diabetic I can answer this one. They now offer most insulins in a pen that uses a screw on needle so that might be an option for insulin dependant diabetics when they travel. I used those prior to going on the pump and if traveling would take a few a long just incase the pump decided to malfunction. It takes 24 hours for them to ship another one to me.
I could too. After quitting my job and never flying again. Can't check a laptop or camera; they have a nasty tendency to vanish from luggage in transit. As an overtired co-worker recently learned.
And that little kid with the piercing screech across the aisle on the 8 to 12 hour flight from Europe, well the stewards better come supplied with lots of duct tape to keep you in your seat...
An interesting idea! Do they taste good?
I can’t wait to do a duck, chicken, turkey, wrapped in bacon!
And my first Muslim.
Mods, note, this is perfectly PC. Not racism, but a war on a specific religion. See, the history of mankind. Crusades.
I don’t care if they’re Orange.
(If a country allows a terrorist to bomb a flight of ours, then that country, forever, gives up landing rights in the US. This seems severe, but it gets them, finally, in the game.)
Okay,
I’m screwed!
Also, you should know...
I’ve been screwed by experts.
TSA doesn’t qualify.
DHS doesn’t qualify.
I have a brother in law, who works for them. He couldn’t find his own left foot. Can’t imagine he can find yours, or anybody else’s.
They are good but very salty and crunchy.
September, 2002 was my last airplane trip. Couldn't deal with the security and travel delays anymore.
I travel by car, pack all I want to, stop when I want, leave when I want. And I see more of the country.
If I have to use Boeing, I'm just not going.
I remember when air travel was enjoyable. Now the Muslims are ruining it for everyone.
We need to be very loud, these new regulations are horsepoop. Pretty soon we will all have to be put in a vinyl sack with an airhole for breathing to board an airplane.
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